Service and maintenance programmes for UPS matter
Regular servicing and maintenance of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems play a critical role in ensuring business continuity across a wide range of sectors. The reliability of these systems – which are the first line of defence against power disruptions – is only assured when upkeep of the installation is systematic and proactive. Without a planned maintenance programme, even well-engineered systems can experience unexpected failures that compromise operations, safety and financial performance.
UPS systems are subject to environmental and operational stress over time, resulting in component degradation. Batteries, cooling fans, capacitors and circuit boards all age, and their performance declines unless they are routinely checked and maintained. Dust accumulation, excessive heat, vibration and load fluctuations contribute further to system fatigue. Overlooking these factors increases the likelihood of unplanned shutdowns and extends the time required to recover from faults.
Preventive maintenance helps to detect early signs of wear before they escalate into serious faults. Legrand’s trained service technicians can identify issues, like voltage instability, declining battery well-being or inefficient thermal management, long before they cause critical failures. Testing procedures, such as load bank trials, thermal imaging and firmware diagnostics, provide a comprehensive view of the system’s operating condition and ensure continued alignment with performance specifications.
The condition of UPS batteries in particular demands close attention. Whether based on lead-acid or lithium-ion technologies, all batteries have finite service lives and are sensitive to temperature, cycling patterns and charge consistency. Routine inspections help to prevent swelling, leakage or sulphation and ensure timely replacement before battery failure affects the integrity of the entire UPS system.
Updating firmware and embedded software is also an essential element of UPS maintenance. As load profiles change and control algorithms evolve, outdated firmware can impair communication with downstream systems or inhibit the unit’s capacity to respond to variable power demands. Regular updates ensure the system maintains compatibility with connected infrastructure and preserves optimal operational performance.
Cleanliness and climate control are equally important in maintaining UPS effectiveness. Accumulated dust, poor airflow and elevated humidity levels, can increase the risk of overheating or short circuits. Visual inspections and environmental checks allow facilities teams to take corrective measures before these risks materialise, reducing the probability of service interruptions and extending the service life of equipment.
Maintenance contracts often include agreed response times, diagnostic support and stockholding of spare parts, which are vital in time-sensitive industries, including data centres, healthcare and manufacturing. Organisations that depend on 24-hour uptime benefit from fast issue resolution and reduced mean time to repair, when a structured maintenance agreement is in place. For facilities with multiple or remote installations, national coverage and remote monitoring capabilities add another layer of assurance.
UPS maintenance also includes regular review of system loading to verify that the unit is appropriately rated for its actual demand. If the load exceeds the UPS’s designed capacity, runtime can be compromised during an outage. Load testing confirms whether the UPS can deliver the required power over the expected duration and offers valuable insights into energy usage trends and future upgrade requirements.
Legrand specialists recommend a minimum of one annual service visit, with more frequent inspections for mission-critical systems, to prevent equipment damage, data loss or operational downtime. In some sectors, the impact of an unexpected power event can extend beyond financial loss to legal exposure or safety compliance failures.
For many businesses, the UPS system represents a core component of their risk management strategy. Regular UPS maintenance is not just good practice – it is a necessary safeguard that not only prevents failure, but also supports energy efficiency, regulatory compliance and long-term asset value.
The Legrand team offers a comprehensive support service to the UPS environment, to ensure the highest standards in electrical and digital building infrastructure. Apart from the supply of a wide range of eco-friendly UPS systems, dependable support services give users the assurance of safe and fault-free operation of the UPS installation.
These services extend from the planning phase to maintenance. Every part of the process is critical and can lead to catastrophic failure if not done correctly. Consistent services and regular maintenance are essential to ensuring users have power when they need it.
Technical experts work closely with the site manager or electrical contractors, verifying compliance with the UPS manufacturer’s installation recommendations before the load powers up. Service engineers conduct rigorous site acceptance tests and full setting up of the UPS system before going live. Commissioning operations for all UPS systems are carried out by qualified engineers to guarantee a safe and seamless start-up of the installation. After the final hand over of the UPS system, a test and commissioning report is delivered.
The company offers carefully designed UPS solutions for data centres, offices, shopping centres, hospitals, medical centres and hotels. Other applications are in factories and warehouses, as well as airports, rail and ship transport. The company also manufactures UPS systems suitable for home offices.
In a world increasingly dependent on digital operations and interconnected systems, the ability to maintain continuous power supply has become a defining factor of organisational resilience.
For further information Internal Sales, Legrand SA
PO Box 1917, Kelvin, 2054
Telephone +27 11 444 7971
Email legrand.south-africa@legrand.co.za
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